Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, left, reacts after hearing his sentence during his trial on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Thursday, June 26, 2025.

The Tampa Bay Rays didn’t panic when their season started slow. And they certainly didn’t panic when Wander Franco’s once-bright career turned dark.

Wander Franco’s legal team will appeal the June verdict that found the Rays All-Star shortstop guilty of sexually abusing a minor and threatens to end his major-league career, his lawyer said Friday.